BYE, MILKMAN of INDIA

PUBLISHED BY: SURENDER KUMAROCTOBER 25, 2012

Dr. Verghese Kurien, the self-effacing Milkman of India, who started the milk revolution in India, is no more. He died of natural causes in Nadiad (Gujarat) aged 90 years of age

When he had pioneered the milk revolution in Gujarat and India, he was 28. After getting dairy farming education in the USA, he returned to India to revolutionise the dairying scene back home in 1949. He started the AMUL (Anand Cooperative Milk Producers Union) as a model of a self-sustaining dairy farmers' cooperative that not only improved milk output many times but also made the farmers prosperous. Today, AMUL is a $ 2.5 billion company (Rs. 13500 Cr.) that continues to inspire management students, delight its customers and bring prosperity to its shareholders. India is the no. 1 producer of milk globally (100 million tonne per annum), thanks to this revolution.

Operation Flood, as the revolution is nicknamed, produced milk powder from buffalo milk for the first time in the world. He remained the chairman of GCCMF (Gujarat Cooperative Milk Producers Federation) and NDDB (National Dairy Development Board) until a few years ago, when he was succeded by Dr. Amrita Patel, his protege. Till date, AMUL remains the most successful case study of a cooperative movement in India. Besides, he also founded the Institute of Rural Management, Anand and was on its board for many years. RIP